Scrapbook of press-cuttings concerning Bedford Volunteer Fire Brigade, including...

Scrapbook of press-cuttings concerning Bedford Volunteer Fire Brigade, including reports of small fires as well as the following [note: an asterisk (*) indicates accompanying photographs and number in square brackets the page containing the material]:

- latter part of a very detailed report of Annual Dinner (1894) [1];

- destruction by fire of barn belonging to Rev.W.H.Jackson, Stagsden (1894) [2];

- detailed report of fire at the premises of Alfred Mann, confectioner, in Brace Street, Bedford (1895) [3];

- very detailed report of second International Tournament of the Fire Service and the victory by the Bedford Volunteer Brigade in the manual engine contest (1896) [4];

- Annual Dinner at Swan Hotel, Bedford (1896) [9];

- detailed report of a fire at College Farm, Clapham Park Estate (1898) [10];

- fire in the luggage van of St.Pancras to Bedford express in Bedford Station (1898) [11];

- very detailed report of "disastrous fire" at Tempsford Hall (1898) [12-14];

- report of Annual Dinner at Mr.Roff's Rooms, High Street, Bedford (1898) [14-15];

- order of a smaller steam fire engine (c.1900) [15];

- report of Brigade Annual General Meeting (1901) [15];

- fire at Bedford Golf Club pavilion (1901) [16]* ;

- hay rick fire at Love Lane, by Newnham walls, Bedford, including group photograph of Captain Negus, fire crew and large steamer engine with the caption "time to make up" (1901) [16]*;

- fire at Bedford County School (1901) [17];

- photograph of aftermath of a fire in Kempstone [sic] (1901) [17]*;

- fire at 38 Prebend Street, Bedford (1901) [17];

- fire at Polhill-Turner estate cottages at Renhold (1901) [17]*;

- detailed report of reception of new, lighter, steamer fire engine, the "Victoria" (1901) [18-20]*;

- victory of Brigade in an open competition with the fire escape (1901) [20];

- polo match given by the Brigade and exhibiting of new "Victoria" steamer (1901) [20];

- report of National Union of Fire Brigades third annual encampment (1901) [20-21];

- report of Brigade Championships, including photographs of the winners, Plumbe (individual drill), Davey (junior individual drill) and Grice, Davey, Randall and Hopkins (four man drill on escape) (1901) [21]*;

- detailed report, with cast lists, of staging of tableaux-vivants at Corn Exchange in aid of Brigade funds (1902) [22-23];

- success of Brigade at South Midland District Competitions (1902) [23];

- Brigade winning of national challenge shield for escape drill (1902) [23];

- return of successful Brigade with an enthusiastically attended procession through the town (1902) [24]*;

- haystack fire in a field on Kimbolton Road, "just opposite the footpath to Putnoe" (1902) [25];

- report of Annual Brigade Competition (1902) [25]*;

- victory of Potton Brigade in county six man drill competition (1902) [26];

- report of "disastrous fire" at Westby & Co., summer-house and arbour makers, Bedford Road, Kempston (1902) [26]*;

- detailed report of fire at Royal Oak PH, Chellington (Carlton) (photograph of burnt out premises probably also shows the owner, Thomas Wooding)(1902) [27]*;

- fire in the billiard room of Swan Hotel, Bedford (1902) [27];

- report of Annual General Meeting of the Brigade (1903) [28];

- small fire in the kitchen of Swan Hotel, Bedford (1903) [28];

- billiard match between Brigade (winners) and Kempston Conservative Club (1903) [28];

- detailed report of Annual Dinner at Swan Hotel Bedford (1903) [29-30];

- increased Borough subscription to Brigade (1903) [31];

- members of the Brigade's attendance at ambulance lectures [31];

- annual drill meeting and fete of South Midland District of National Fire Brigades Union at Luton (1903) [31];

- social outing for Brigade members to Caesar's Camp, Sandy (home of Pym family) (1903) [31];

- report of "disastrous fire" at Whitbread cottages, Cotton End (1903) [32]*;

- report of Annual Brigade Competitions (1903) [32];

- destruction of a stackyard by fire at Meadow Farm, Kempston (1903) [33];

- very detailed report of Bedford Fire Brigade Bazaar, the first time such a method of fund raising had been employed by the Brigade, and opened by Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, photographs show procession [see AD 1082/6/24] (1903) [33-37]*;

- fire at Miss Wynter's grocery store, High Street, Kempston (1903) [37];

- fire at Britannia Iron Works, Bedford (1903) [38];

- detailed report of destruction by fire of Half Moon Inn, High Street, Kempston (1904) [38-39]*;

- report of Annual Dinner at the Central Restaurant, Bedford (1904) [40];

- fire in two barns, part of the Biddenham Estate, at Bedford Ford End (1904) [41]*;

- detailed report of first Fire Brigade Church Parade at St.Paul's Bedford (1904) [42];

- detailed report of destruction by fire of L.& N.W.Railway Company station at Willington (1904) [43];

- "alarming gas explosion" at 40a Castle Road, Bedford (1904) [44];

- report of Annual Brigade Competitions, with photograph of Walter Mead, who won three trophies (1904) [45]*;

- detailed report of fire at Windsor Terrace, Goldington Road, Bedford (1904) [46]*;

- fire at 39 Muswell Road, Southend, Bedford (1905) [47];

- detailed report of Annual Dinner at the Central Restaurant, High Street, Bedford (1905) [48-49];

- fire at Corporation stables by the Fair Ground, Bedford (1905) [50];

- report of unsuccessful Brigade participation in National Fire Brigades' Union competitions at the annual camp at Crystal Palace [London] (1905) [50];

- fire at Tom Coombs' establishment, The Arcade, Bedford (1905) [51];

- photograph of Fire Brigade pony and trap and lightweight steamer, with five unnamed men in a field at Longholme Lakes, Bedford (1905) [51]*;

- report of Brigade competitions (1905) [52];

- report of fire at Paine & Co., on the bank of the Brook, St.Neot's [Hunts] and serious consequences had the wind been in a different direction; the report begins "Early yesterday morning, St.Neot's local authorities had a great object lesson on their incapacity to deal with a serious outbreak of fire." (1905) [52];

- detailed report of Annual Dinner at the Central Restaurant (1906) [55];

- report of Bedford Brigade versus Sandy Brigade at billiards (won) and whist (drawn) (1906) [56];

- destruction by fire of a cottage in Cople (1906) [57]*;

- haystack fire in a field on Kimbolton Road, near Gipsy Lane, Bedford (1906) [57]*;

- Brigade's victory in the Escape Competition of the South Midland District at St.Albans (1906) [57];

- detailed report of Brigade's victory in the Escape Competition at the National Fire Brigades' Union event at Shalford Park, Guildford [Surrey] (1906) [58];

- destruction by fire of two cottages at River Lane, London End Milton Ernest (1906) [58]*;

- report of presentation to Captain Hill of the Brigade of a medal as a "Membre d'Honneur" at the 25th anniversary of "Federation des Sapeurs Pompiers Francais" (1906) [59];

- report of arson by a tramp of six stacks of new wheat on Harrowden Hill, Cotton End (1906) [59];

- very detailed report of fire at Bromham church causing considerable damage to the tower and part of the roof; includes speculation that the fire was started accidentally by bellringers, the damage being costed at about £1,000 (1906) [59-60]*;

- detailed report of Brigade competitions in Russell Park, Bedford (1906) [61];

- letter to the newspaper criticising plans for a new water scheme for Bedford (1906) [62];

- detailed report of Annual Dinner at the Central Restaurant, Bedford (1907) [62-63];

- report of successful Brigade trial of the new water supply in Kempston (1907) [64];

- fire at the premises of E.Lewis, watchmaker, 10 Harpur Street, Bedford (1907) [64];

- election of Captain Hill of the Brigade as new honorary secretary of National Fire Brigades' Union (1907) [65];

- very detailed report of public ceremony marking the arrival of a second lightweight steamer fire engine "Alexandra", for the Brigade (1907) [65-67]*;

- report of Brigade success at South Midland District competitions at Uxbridge [Middx] (1907) [67];

- very detailed report of annual Brigade competitions in Russell Park (1907) [67];

- article, with photograph, from National Fire Brigades' Union journal, on the new NFBU honorary general secretary, Captain Hill of Bedford Volunteer Brigade (1907) [68]*;

- report by Brigade on fire appliances at Bedford Workhouse suggesting, inter alia, that male and female staff be trained to manipulate the appliances (1907) [70] ;

- detailed report of Fireman William E.Perdue, of Mill Street, facing charges of embezzling small sums of money from the Brigade and being committed for trial (1907) [71];

- report of proceedings to eject William Perdue from his tenancy of Fire Brigade quarters following his dismissal from the Brigade, before his trial (1907) [71];

- detailed report of trial of William Perdue, verdict - not guilty (1908) [72-73];

- fire in the premises of Henry Burt, printer, in Mill Street, Bedford (1908) [73];

- detailed report of the Annual Dinner at the Central Restaurant (1908) [74-76];

- report of Shefford Brigade under Captain Negus (ex-Bedford) being the only Brigade in the county to win a national competition that year (1908) [76];

- appointment of J.T.Ashwell as resident fireman and caretaker of Mill Street Fire Station (1908) [76];

- fire at a cottage in Elstow, caused by sparks from a traction engine igniting the thatch (1908) [76-77]*;

- small fire at Davey's newspaper shop at 6 Gwyn Street, Bedford (1908) [77];

- small fire at Aaron Ives' fried fish shop in Great Butts Street, Bedford (1908) [77];

- detailed report of a fire at 6 St.Paul's Square, Bedford (1908) [77-78]*;

- detailed reports of Bedford Brigade's success in winning the a new combined drill with steamer and life saving at National Fire Brigades' Union annual camp at Scarborough [Yorks] (1908) [78-79]*;

- detailed report of the annual Brigade competitions in Russell Park, Bedford (1908) [79-80];

- fire at 58 Clapham Road, Bedford, due to children playing with a candle (1908) [80];

- detailed report of "unique cinematograph exhibition" at Corn Exchange, Bedford, organised by Brigade on behalf of Widows' & Orphans' Fund of NFBU (1909) [81];

- fire in a chemical laboratory at Bedford Modern School (1909) [82];

- detailed report of Annual Dinner at Central Restaurant (1909) [82-84];

- report of Brigade versus Goldington Reading & Recreation Room at billiards (won) and whist (also won) (1909) [84];

- report on the necessity for street fire alarms and Bedford Town Council's inaction on the matter (1909) [84];

- detailed report of victory by Brigade in the escape drill at South Midland District competitions at Harrow [Middx] (1909) [85-86];

- detailed report of Brigade's successful participation in NFBU competitions at Tonbridge Camp [Kent] (1909) [86-87];

- fire at the newly opened Rink, The Embankment, Bedford (1909) [87];

- report of fire practice at Howbury Hall (1909) [87-88];

- report of funeral of previous member of Brigade, Walter W.Lightfoot (aged 32) (1909) [88];

- report of emigration of Brigade member R.R.Bithrey to Canada (1910) [88];

- report of Annual Dinner at Central Restaurant (1910) [88-89];

- detailed report of fire "of a disastrous nature" at leather dressing factory belonging to R.B.Saunders, College Street, Kempston (1910) [90]*;

- reports of Brigade versus Goldington Reading & Recreation Room at billiards (won) and whist (also won) (1910) [90];

- very detailed report of annual Brigade competitions at Russell Park (1910) [91-92]*;

- scorecard of Fire Brigade (158 all out) versus Goldington Reading & Recreation Room (187/8) at Russell Park (1910) [92];

- Brigade victory over Goldington Reading & Recreation room at swimming, Newnham Baths (1910) [92];

- fire at London & Lancashire Fire Office, St.Paul's Square, Bedford! (1910) [93];

- fire at F.E.Taylor & Co., printers and paper bag manufacturers, Prebend Street, Bedford (1910) [93];

- reports of Brigade versus Goldington Reading & Recreation Room at billiards (won) and whist (lost) (1911) [93];

- report of Annual Dinner at Central Restaurant, Bedford (1911) [94];

- report of a "huge conflagration" beginning in workshops and storerooms at the rear of Frederic Gale's premises in Mill Street, Bedford (1911) [95];

- report of victory of Brigade in escape drill at South Midland District competitions at Dunstable (1911) [96];

- explosion and fire in car driven by Lady St.John of Bletsoe in Goldington Road, Bedford (1911) [96]*.

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